Sabah’s poor to get poorer if govt cuts subsidy
Sabah PKR deputy chief Christina Liew urged the government to first stop the massive wastage of public funds before talking about cutting back on subsidies.
Written by Queville To, Free Malaysia Today
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR deputy chief Christina Liew urged the government to first stop the massive wastage of public funds before talking about cutting back on subsidies.
“The government says this (cutting down on subsidies) is the only way to save the country from becoming bankrupt.
“I say the government should curb corruption and wastage which is so rampant and blatant as reported annually by the Auditor General.
“Don’t pass the burden to the rakyat. The coffers will be empty soon due to their mismanagement,” she said on Friday.
Liew said that the the government coffers are haemorrhaging money due to lack of prudent spending, transparency and accountability.
She was responding to the warning by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala on Thursday that Malaysia would be bankrupt by 2019 if it does not cut subsidies and rein in borrowing.
He said that Malaysia’s debt would rise to 100 percent of GDP by 2019 from the current 54% if it did not cut subsidies.
Liew said that while that may be true, the government must remember that removal of subsidies will hit the poor in Sabah the hardest as they are are already living below poverty line.
